EP 0692781 A3 19970402 - Interface element for medical ultrasound transducer
Title (en)
Interface element for medical ultrasound transducer
Title (de)
Kontaktelement für medizinische Ultraschallwandler
Title (fr)
Dispositif d'interface pour un transducteur medical à ultrason
Publication
Application
Priority
US 27556294 A 19940715
Abstract (en)
[origin: EP0692781A2] An ultrasound transducer assembly includes an ultrasound transducer (10, 36, 72) for transmitting and receiving ultrasound energy and one or more interface elements for conducting transmitted ultrasound energy from the transducer (10, 36, 72) to a patient's body and for conducting received ultrasound energy from the patient's body to the transducer. At least one ultrasound-transmissive interface element (20, 60, 45, 62, 70) is fabricated of a polymeric material. The material preferably has a sound speed that approximately matches the speed of sound in human tissue. The material comprises at least one primary rigid component material and at least one secondary component material, and has a Shore D durometer hardness value of greater than about 60D, and a sound speed of between about 1,450 meters/second and about 1,700 meters/second. The ultrasound-transmissive element fabricated of a polymeric material can be a protective lens cover (20, 60), an ultrasound lens or lens element (62), an ultrasound-transmissive window (45) or a sound pipe (70). <MATH>
IPC 1-7
IPC 8 full level
A61B 8/00 (2006.01); A61B 8/14 (2006.01); G01N 29/24 (2006.01); G10K 11/02 (2006.01); G10K 11/30 (2006.01); H04R 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC (source: EP US)
G10K 11/02 (2013.01 - EP US); G10K 11/30 (2013.01 - EP US)
Citation (search report)
- [AD] US 5127410 A 19920707 - KING ROBERT W [US], et al
- [AD] EP 0605756 A2 19940713 - HEWLETT PACKARD CO [US]
- [A] US 4699150 A 19871013 - KAWABUCHI MASAMI [JP], et al
- [A] DE 4125621 A1 19930204 - ARNOLD MANFRED DR [DE], et al
- [A] PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 016, no. 356 (C - 0969) 31 July 1992 (1992-07-31)
Designated contracting state (EPC)
DE FR GB NL
DOCDB simple family (publication)
EP 0692781 A2 19960117; EP 0692781 A3 19970402; JP H08103443 A 19960423; US 5505205 A 19960409
DOCDB simple family (application)
EP 95106930 A 19950508; JP 17883595 A 19950714; US 27556294 A 19940715